Brubbisms

Brubbs has decided to be a big boy all the sudden.I want to remember his babyhood before it's gone...

• Eee-Yo means hold me. He says this no less than 252 times a day. "Eee-yo, Momma! Eee-yo!!"
• Wee-ah means Olivia. She loves that he calls her this. I think she'll be sad when he starts to call her Olivia.
• Cow-ner Cow-ner means he wants to sit next to me while I cook. He's been doing this since he was big enough to sit in the bumbo. That's a long time. He loves his momma.
• Nee-NO means water bottle. He can SAY water bottle, but for some reason still calls his water bottle nee-no. No, we don't give him baby bottles!!! It's one of those juice bottles with a head on the top that we refill with water to use instead of a sippy cup.
• His favorite song should be Twinkle Twinkle or something like that, but it's a gospel song written by my friend Marvin Williams called, "Bow Now." He sings it a LOT.
• He closes his eyes and bows his head to pray.
• He calls me babe. He gets it from his dad, but it cracks me up EVERY time. Seriously, he'll hand me something and say, "Here you go, Babe!" Ha! Seriously, hysterical.
• He wants to do EVERYTHING KK does. They are best friends.
• He and KK play "pizza" where she'll say, "You want some PIZZA?? and he'll say, "YUP!" then they high five and laugh. Such a silly game, but it makes us all laugh.
• When I ask him if he needs to go potty he'll say, "Do YOU need to go potty??"
• He loves Thomas the train. He calls him "POM-is."
• He loves Diego. He calls him "A-Go!"
• He slides down the stairs on his belly. REALLY fast. He got this move from Addi.
• Tee-TAR means Guitar. He LOVES to play his play guitar.
• He calls race cars "car cars."
• He wants to play hide and seek, but never hides and counts random numbers then yells out, "READY NOT!" and comes screaming around the house "looking" for people.

Love this sweet boy. So sad that he's growing up, but so thankful for each day I've been given to watch over him and lead him to Jesus. When I first saw this picture I wanted to delete it. His hair looks all ruffled, he's dirty, and sticking out his tongue. Then it hit me. He looks like a...BOY!! So, I've decided it's one of my new favorite pictures of my SON.

Look Whoooo's Having A Baby!!

So, I am part of a HUGE family. Both my parents are one of six children, and each child has their offspring and so forth. You get the picture. Holidays are a hoot with a ginormous amount of people there. With said offspring, it's fun to see family get married and start having babies. I currently have several cousins either getting married or having babies. Today, my cousin Rachel and I threw a shower to celebrate the coming arrival of Korbyn Mack Frost, soon to be son of my cousin Heather and her Husband Justin.
Heather and Justin decided on an Owl theme for the nursery, so I decided to go ahead and carry that into the shower. Look how CUTE this turned out!!!

This is the invitation:

The decor:

Sorry there are so many pictures of my ribbon tree, but I was really trying to capture the beauty of it and the pictures just weren't doing it justice. I had Manly cut some branches(actually I think he just picked them off the ground) and I tied ribbon I already had in my craft closet on them. It turned out so amazingly cute that I've decided to keep it up in the school room for a while.

Aren't her colors beautiful! Royal blue, lime green, orange, and brown. So cute!

Mia, my helper.

Yeah, right!

Another view after the cloth was on the table.

You can sort of see in this one, but I made pom owls and stuck them on the branches.

Cute advise book I got from Hobby Lobby for 60% off and customized it. I also got the owl stickers from HL and put them on an old frame we already had. I just printed off the sign using the same border as the invitation.

My masterpiece! I got this branch on a walk one day with my family. I had a vision of what it would look like and this is exactly what I pictured in my head. I made the banner with scrapbook paper and jute twine and attached it to the branch. Last, I added the little owl family. It looked really nice. I made the "topiary" out of a cup and two pumpkins!  

The little owl family.

I had Manly trim me some pine needles this morning to put on the living room table.

Made this cute wreath with the fringe we used from KK's nursery(yes, I've kept it for 5 years because it's CUTE!), and another set of pom owl's.

See the momma owl with her cute little hair bow?! So cute!!

Look at this CUTE cake Rachel ordered! It looked just like the invitation! Cute and yummy too!

The food table. My mom provided all the snacks and Rachel made the punch.

I used the paper lanterns from Isaiah's first birthday party.

The sweet couple.

Happy Baby, Frost Family!!

I'm SO Granola...

Actually, I'm not. I do own a pair of ragged TOMS, listen to folky grass roots music, and watch indy movies, but that's about as "granola" as I get. I DO, however make a REALLY good granola. I've toyed with several different recipes, and seem to be getting it mostly perfect now. I had a few friends ask for the recipe, so I'm going to do my best to share it. I'm not a "stick to the recipe" type of girl. I cook like my granny, I just eye it, taste it, and try to make it look right. That sort of cooking makes it really hard to write down recipes, but I'm gonna do my best.

Momma's Groovy Granola

6 cup oats

1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1 cup chopped almonds
1/2 cup non-fat dry milk powder
1/4 cup cinnamon(you can leave this out if you don't like cinnamon)
I also add in nuts. You can use whatever you have on hand, but my favorites are almonds! I usually add in 2 cups if I don't have any other nuts or 1cup if I have others. You can also add in seeds(like pumpkin and sunflower). Use about 1/4 cup of these.

Mix together in a large mixing bowl and set aside.

Combine
2/3 cup honey
2/3 cup coconut oil(in liquid form)
2 Tb. water
3/4 tsp. vanilla
3/4 tsp. almond extract
Add to oats.
Mix together(I usually use my hands to be sure to get it all mixed together really good and everything evenly coated.)
Spread evenly onto two cookie sheets(or baking dishes)
Bake at 325 for 25 minutes(be sure to stir a few times while it's baking, I usually stir every ten minutes, then cook for 5 more minutes)
Let cool. Be sure to stir a few times while cooling.

Once cool you can add 1/2 cup of any dried fruit you'd like. Some that we've tried are craisins, raisins, and banana chips. You could also try dates, or apricots.

A MUST for us it chocolate chips! Add these to your mixture once it's cool for  chips, or while cooling for a more clustery taste(this is what I like to do). How much, you ask? Well, don't ask me! You decide! If you like 'em as much as we do add those puppies in until they mostly cover the top layer. If you aren't sure or you just HAVE to have a number do about 3/4 cup.

You can use granola as a snack by itself, with milk as a cereal(my kids favorite), with yogurt and fresh fruit as a parfait, or on a tortilla with peanut butter for a healthy(ish) lunch.

The best thing is that you can switch it up and make it however you and your family like it best. The best way to make sure you get it how you like it is to keep making it!
Enjoy!!!!

Random Thought Wednesday Post

Bulleted Post today for tidiness sake.

• Have I mentioned Manly got me a sweet sweet girl to help with the kids on Wednesday mornings? Best. Gift. Ever. It frees me up to have town day on my own. I'm also able to schedule appointments for this day. I'm loving it! Such a blessing to have someone I trust with the kids too. She's such a blessing and the kids LOVE her.
• Taxes are done. I was a little worried about doing them myself with all of Manly's self employment stuff, but it went really well. We now anxiously await our return.
• We're going to get Manly a much needed new car soon. The purple Saturn needs to be replaced. Bad. We feel so blessed that it's lasted as long as it has. It's a good car for him. We're looking at different options. I'm excited for him to get something new(to him).
• Mia now has two teeth. Yay! So glad those puppies are in. Now we await the others...
• Go buy some pita bread and chocolate cookie dough. Spread the dough on the pita then put the pita in a 350 degree oven for a few minutes. Enjoy. I know you will...
• I still love spaghettios and Cap'n Crunch at 30. I thought it would wear off, but it appears that a life-long relationship with the Chef and the Cap'n is hard to break.  I don't buy the cereal, because seriously I'd eat an entire box a day and weigh 700 pounds, but I do buy 4 cans of spaghettios a month and spread it out over the month. Ha!
• Manly colored a picture of a bouquet of flowers and put it under my pillow. So much better than the real ones. The picture has been on my table since then and they haven't wilted a bit!

A Love Note...of Sorts

So, our kids have been doing a lot of bickering lately. If you know us, you know they come by it honestly. I hate it, but I'm one that likes the last word and Scotty is REALLY stubborn. ANYWAY, we've been trying to nip it in the bud with the kids. I just don't like hearing them fussing at each other over little things. Yesterday I sat the kids down and talked with them about loving each other because God had chosen us to be a family and that we were to love our neighbors as our self. I told them that Daddy and I had made bad choices too, and that we were sorry that we'd sat a bad example, but that we were ready to start fresh together with them. About 5 minutes later Olivia brought me this note and asked me if I thought it was appropriate to give to KK.

I've never heard her say she hates anyone(that's a word our kids aren't allowed to say about others), so I was a little surprised, but I was proud that she was willing to take what I'd said and try to make things better with her sister. So sweet. I love how she made KK wear pants and a t-shirt. That's totally her style. Today has been much better. I'm hoping that Manly and I will be able to set a better example. It's so hard to break old habits, isn't it?

Winter is SNO-Where in Site

So, we live in the heart of the South. This year has brought us very strange weather. This summer it was pretty mild and we even had several weeks when we didn't even have to run our air, which for our area is saying something. This winter we've had strangely warm weather. Some days we've even gone out in shorts! So strange. Well, I guess winter got tired of not being seen and on Monday, out of nowhere, it SNOWED! It wasn't a lot, but enough to look pretty and enough for the kids to go outside, which around here means a house full of soggy mittens and hats. I didn't care though, because the kids were SO excited to see snow!! Here are a few pictures of their time outside.

The big kids.

Daddy and Mia. She thought the snow was so cool!

Once they came in I had hot cocoa, biscuits, eggs, bacon, and a jelly bar. I'm starting to think that they just want to go out in the snow for the hot cocoa that's almost certain to follow. Sweet little babies!

In other news, we are learning about Asia right now in school. As part of our study on the Middle East, Manly taught the kids about their traditional dress. Here is Bubby all dressed up. He kept saying, "I'm Joseph!" So sweet!

Manly's Next Tip

I've really liked reading Manly's parenting tips. Today you'll enjoy it for sure with a special guest appearance from KK. ;) Thanks for your support of Scotty in his new career. It means a lot to us that you'd share his name with others. We know that you are, because he's staying really busy which is a great thing!
As always, if you know someone who would benefit from Scotty's services, send them here. We are currently trying to find an office space here in town so that he could start seeing clients in this area. There is an obvious need for it here in town as there really isn't anyone else doing what he does! If you have any leads please let us know. Thanks friends!

Smittles do The Smittle Band

So, I've mentioned here before that I have an insanely talented Sister-in-Law. Stephanie, Manly's only sibling, is one of my favorite people in the world.
She's AMAZING with our kids. She's on the top of our sitter list, and has ALWAYS done a great job taking care of the kids even though she's really never been around kids much. The kids LOVE Aunt Stephanie. She's such a creative person that they just hang on every word she says. She comes up with fantastically fun things to do with them and they always hate when we come back home and she has to leave. It's been a great surprise to see what a great Aunt she is.
When I first met her I thought I'd never meet anyone quite like her again. She's one of the smartest people I know, crafty, kind, and one of the best female singers I've ever heard sing. She has crazy huge range, and can sing a broad range of music. Seriously, one of the most talented people I've ever met.
In the past two years she's started a band that does shows around the state. We've only be able to hear them play a few times because usually their shows are late in the evenings when the kids would already be sleeping. This past week, however, they were playing an early show at the library, so we loaded up the kids for their first time ever to see Aunt Stephanie in CONCERT. It was a great night of family fun. Here are some of the pictures from our night.

 

The kids all dressed in their best "rock star" clothes. This was Olivia's idea.

KK said, "LOOK! Aunt Stephanie is FAMOUS!"

I don't know who was more excited Steph or the kids. This is them watching her warm up.

Visiting with Aunt Stephanie before the show.

Brubbs waiting for the show to start. 

This is KK right after they announced the band and KK heard Steph start to sing.

Steph...singing.

The girls dancing.

Addi stood like this and watched them play almost the entire time.

Mia DANCED the whole night.

This is KK's response when Stephanie started singing the song she wrote for the kids.

Bubby's reaction when we told him this was "his song."

The big kids and Aunt Stephanie

Our Family

Valentine's Day Smittle Style

My darling Manly took off today to celebrate Valentine's Day. Like I said earlier today Valentine's has always been a day that I dislike. I think that those who love should show love throughout the year and not spend excessive amounts of money on balloons, flowers, and electronic dancing plush. This year, however, I decided to try to simply focus on celebrating the love I have for Scotty and the kids. They mean so much to me, and it's great that there is a day set aside for me to stop and specifically celebrate that. SO, that's what we tried to do today.
We actually started our celebration yesterday by making old fashioned Valentine's bags and homemade
Valentine's for each other. The kids really got into it for several reasons. We had a snow day yesterday, so I think we could have done anything and the kids would have been excited! Also, I let them use GLITTER! I am a glitter HATER! I NEVER NEVER NEVER use it because it always seems to spread all over the house and all over everyone, so they were excited to get a chance to use glitter. I think it also helped that Manly and I were both there to help. When I'm doing crafts alone I think the kids get a little bored of waiting on me to get around the table to help them. It always ends up chaotic and wild. Having two helpers was much better for everyone!
Here are the finished bags.

From the front

From the back.

This morning "the boys" made us girls breakfast. They made pink homemade pancakes. They were yummy! The girls thought they were magical!

They waited at the door of the kitchen to say "Happy Valentine's Day, Girls!!"

Scotty had a note made for each of the girls(including me) that read that he and Brubbs would like to take us out on a formal lunch date. The girls were really excited for Daddy to be home TWO days in a row!

Daddy and Brubbs with their pancakes!

After breakfast we went in to look at our Valentine's. The kids did such a good job making special things for each other.

KK looking at the Valentine I made her.

Addi looking inside to see if there was anything else in there.

My Mia looking at all her pretty Valentine's.

Lulu with her Valentine from Daddy.

Brubbs

Olivia wrote everyone really sweet notes on hearts she cut out. This is her reading her note she wrote to Brubbs. She's such a golden hearted girl. Each note was so sweetly written.

After we did Valentine's we got dressed and ready to go to lunch. I let the girls pick out one of their "fancy dresses." They love getting to pick a fancy dress! We went to Market Place. I'm not crazy about that place, but we wanted to go somewhere we could enjoy a yummy dessert because it's not often that we get dessert at home much less out somewhere. MP has the BEST desserts, SO we decided to go there.

Daddy and Brubbs with their hot dates.

Manly and Momma. I'm not sure why I look so ghostly.

This is Mia's face just about ALL the time. This girl is pure JOY.

Us girls about to go in and enjoy our dates. Notice Addi's RED shoes. She wears those just about every day. Sweet girl!

My big girls!

Just about any time we go out strangers come up and talk to us. They want to know the ages and names of our kids and want to know all about anything we are willing to tell them about our family. Today a nice lady came over to tell us how well behaved our kids were and to ask if she could take our picture. Ha! Of course we let her.

Me and my HANDSOME date!

Daddy and his "Sweetie Peetie"

Our YUMMY desserts. We let the kids get two mini messes to split. These are the dessert buddies.

Bubby and Lulu

Wacky KK(really looking forward to getting into that MESS!) and Addi.

Momma and Daddy(thanks to Lulu for both of the pictures of Manly and me).

Look at these two working so hard to get every last bit!

Lulu helping Brubbs get a good bite.

Even Mia got a TINY taste of our yummy.

Tonight the girls and I made a nice candle light dinner for Manly. I even got the fancy tableware out. It was a nice treat for him, but of course once I was in charge I didn't get any pictures. Manly is teaching tonight, so now that the littles are in bed I'm vegging out watching Biggest Loser. A nice day.

Today is a day to celebrate love. Remember these things about what love is...

   Love never gives up.

Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.



-1 Corinthians 13 taken from The Message